§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give a fuller description than they have yet of the "sub-strategic role of Trident", in the light of the possible deployment worldwide of anti-missile missile systems and the possibility that the United States administration has persuaded the Russian Government that the Anti-Ballistic Missile 74WA Treaty should be amended to permit the testing and deployment of anti-missile defences as part of United States Defence Counter-Proliferation Initiative.
§ Lord HenleyA sub-strategic capability is an essential element of effective deterrence. The Trident system will provide us with a credible minimum deterrent, in both strategic and sub-strategic roles, against all foreseeable developments well into the next century. The details of discussions between the United States and the Russian Federation on the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty are a matter for the two governments concerned.